Rush Limbaugh described the success of the movie “American Sniper” as “an extension of the November elections,” saying the film’s enormous box-office earnings are an expression of the public’s support for pro-American values.

“I think the success of ‘American Sniper,’ there’s a whole lot of things rolled into it,” said the conservative radio host on Monday’s show. “I think people are going to this movie in the same way they showed up to vote in November, and I think the box office for ‘American Sniper’ is an extension of the November elections.”

The election saw Republicans take control of the Senate, gain seats in the House, and pick up or hold majorities in 69 state legislative houses, a party record.

The movie starring Bradley Cooper as Navy SEAL Chris Kyle had “another insanely huge weekend at the box office,” according to Business Insider, taking in $64.4 million from Friday through Sunday for a total of $200 million in two weeks of general North American release.

Mr. Limbaugh’s remarks came in response to criticism of the movie from Hollywood celebrities, including director Michael Moore, who said last week on Twitter that snipers like Mr. Kyle are “cowards” and “invaders,” not heroes.

On Saturday, Mr. Moore said on Twitter, “Tomorrow’s Sunday School (1) What Would Jesus Do? Oh, I know what he’d do — hide on top of a roof and shoot people in the back!”

Actor Seth Rogen initially said the film reminded him of a fake Nazi propaganda movie that plays in the movie “Inglorious Basterds,” but later issued a statement on Twitter saying that he enjoyed “American Sniper” and was sorry if his comments offended anyone.

“‘American Sniper’ had a second big week, and it’s confounding everybody,” Mr. Limbaugh said. “Of course the left is now having concoct some of the most hateful stuff in order to tear it down.”

He said the support for “American Sniper” reflects a backlash over the direction of events in Washington, D.C.

“I think it is the American people continuing to express two things: Their utter outrage at what is happening in Washington and the inattention Washington is paying to the health and the goodness of the country,” Mr. Limbaugh said.

“And the second thing that they are doing is enforcing what they believe to be good old traditional American values, and everything wrapped up in it,” Mr. Limbaugh said. “And they want people to know that they are out there in huge numbers and that they are not going away.”

The most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, Mr. Kyle died in 2013 at the age of 38 after being shot by another veteran at a shooting range near Chalk Mountain, Texas. He was awarded two Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars and other honors for his four tours of duty in Iraq.